[Report 1930] / School Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council.

  • Hertfordshire (England). County Council. n 50062101.
Date:
1930
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1930] / School Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the school, arrangements should be made to reserve and mark pitches for use during school hours, has been followed at Bushey, Knebworth and Hitchin. There is a little doubt that in the very near future the cost of upkeep of playing fields owned or leased by the County Council will need to be considered. At present a field to a teacher is something comparatively new, and in very few cases has it got beyond the idea that it is a place where cricket and football are played. Gradually, as the possibilities and uses of a playing field are more widely known and practised, and this is being undertaken by means of teachers’ classes, then consideration should be given to the playing surface, planning, etc., and it will be realized that adequate space is no longer in itself sufficient. The County Council at the present time lease 3 fields, make grants to Managers in 21 cases towards the cost of rent and upkeep, whilst there are 10 schools having a field as a part of the school site. Training of Teachers. Teachers' Classes conducted hy the Organizer. (a) Physical Training. (i) Hitchin WUshere Dacre School.—A series of six lecture demonstrations, each of one hour duration. (ii) St. Albans. Two classes, one for men and one for women teachers—a series of ten lectures each of two hours’ duration. These classes attracted 37 women and ii men teachers. {b) Organized Games.—A. lecture demonstration on the methods of conducting an organized lesson on the playing field during summer months was given at the following places : Cheshunt, Hitchin, Letchworth, Welwyn Garden City, and Buntingford. These demonstrations attracted a very large number of teachers, who expressed appreciation and agreed that they had been helpful. Vacation Courses. The practice of making grants towards the cost incurred by teachers who, being responsible for the physical training in central and senior schools, are willing to attend a vacation course in order to get additional training to fit them for their work, has been continued. Six men and two women elected to attend the Scarboro’ course, but at the last moment through reasons beyond the control of the teachers themselves, two men were reluctantly compelled to withdraw. As soon as possible after these teachers return to work, they are visited in their schools to follow up their training, and one appreciates very quickly the fact that they have a better and wider conception of physical training. This point has been discussed with the head teachers, and each one agrees that the benefit the teacher has received is being rapidly passed on to the children with excellent results. The head master of Watford Victoria Senior Boys’ School reports that the change brought about through and by the physical training is so marked that he is anxious to develop the advanced work. To this end he has arranged demonstra- tions to be given by one class to the rest of their school fellows, under the direction of the teacher responsible for physical training. He believes it is of great value for his children to undergo and see this well-organized bodily activity which makes for alertness, concentration, and perfect control of brain over body. And experience goes to show that he is right.